Yet despite losing Jurrell Casey to the NFL draft, where he was a third-round pick, and the uncertain status of Armond Armstead, I’m jumping back on the defensive line’s bandwagon.

The main reason, but not the only one, is that defensive end Nick Perry appears to be on the verge of a major breakout. Perry has all the tools to be a double-digit sack man and a first-round pick. The only thing that held him back last season was health.

He wasn’t alone. Injuries, more than anything, undermined the defensive line’s success last season. Perry played all year on a bum ankle. Christian Tupou had to redshirt after spring knee surgery. Wes Horton missed time because of a back injury and wasn’t the same once he returned.

With the DL ranks thinned, Casey and Armstead sometimes had to play every snap, a less-than-ideal scenario that reduced their effectiveness. Overall, the defensive line just didn’t cause the havoc many expected it would.

Injuries are obviously an unpredictable variable, and the outlook for 2011 improves markedly with a fully healthy Armstead available. With or without him, there’s a lot to like about USC’s defensive front.

Horton (right) showed signs early last season and late this spring that he can be an effective bookend to Perry. Kevin Greene finally started to convert his athletic ability into production in the spring game, batting down multiple passes (although he oddly was credited with only one). The coaches felt confident enough in Tupou’s health and George Uko‘s promise to name them starters at defensive tackle heading into fall. They placed Tupou ahead of DaJohn Harris, a senior who started 12 games last season.

Add in the 2011 recruiting class, which is chock-full of defensive linemen, and the unit should be much deeper than last season.

Mostly, though, this is about Perry becoming a dominant edge rusher. If opponents have to double-team him or shift their protection to his side, that makes everyone else better.

Perry gave every indication this spring that he can become that type of player. Look for the rest of the line to follow his lead.

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